Rail lubricator

Abstract

A device for lubricating a track or a rail that is adapted to be mounted tog wheeled vehicle. The device includes a frame member adapted to be mounted to the vehicle and an arm pivotally attached to the frame member. A roller, which is adapted to ride on the rail, mounts to the arm. A lubricating nozzle is secured to the arm.

We claim:  
     
       1. A device for lubricating a rail, comprising: 
       a mounting frame, said mounting frame comprising a mounting bracket frame pivotally secured to a pivot bracket;  
       a first support frame having a first end and a second end, said second end pivotally secured to said pivot bracket;  
       a roller rotatably secured to said first end of said first support frame and adapted to ride on a rail, said roller adapted to rotate about a first axis relative to said first support frame, said pivot bracket and said first support frame pivot about a second axis relative to said mounting bracket frame and said first support frame pivots about a third axis relative to said pivot bracket, wherein the first axis and the third axis are parallel to each other and the second axis is not parallel to the first axis and the third axis; and  
       a lubricating nozzle mounted to said first support frame for directing lubricant toward a rail.  
     
     
       2. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a biasing member having two ends, one end mounted to said mounting frame and said other end mounted to said first support frame.  
     
     
       3. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said biasing member assists in maintaining said support frame in a first position and a second position, the first position maintains said roller in an engaged position with a rail and the second position maintains the roller in a disengaged position. 
     
     
       4. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said biasing member includes a gas charged chamber and a piston slidably received by said chamber, said piston biased relative to said chamber, one of said piston and said chamber pivotally secured to said mounting frame and the other of said piston and said chamber pivotally mounted to said first support frame. 
     
     
       5. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said roller includes a tapered surface defining a recess adapted to receive a portion of a rail. 
     
     
       6. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said tapered surface includes a first tapered surface spaced apart from a second tapered surface. 
     
     
       7. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said first tapered surface is dissimilar from said second tapered surface. 
     
     
       8. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said first tapered surface and said second tapered surface are frusto-conical shaped and have differing base diameters. 
     
     
       9. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said roller is made of an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
       10. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a stop secured to one of said mounting bracket frame and said pivot bracket adapted to contact the other of said pivot bracket and said mounting bracket frame to limit pivotal movement of said pivot bracket relative to said mounting bracket frame. 
     
     
       11. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said stop is adjustable to adjust the limited pivotal movement of said pivot bracket relative to said mounting bracket frame. 
     
     
       12. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said stop is a threaded member threadably received by said pivot bracket. 
     
     
       13. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second lubricating nozzle mounted to said first support frame for directing a lubricant toward a rail, one of said lubricating nozzles arranged to direct a lubricant toward a top portion of the rail and the other of said lubricating nozzles arranged to direct a lubricant toward a gauge face of the rail. 
     
     
       14. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first support frame comprises two spaced apart arms. 
     
     
       15. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said roller is positioned between said arms. 
     
     
       16. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a centering spring having two ends, one end secured to said mounting bracket frame and said other end mounted to said pivot bracket. 
     
     
       17. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said centering spring is a torsional spring. 
     
     
       18. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a bumper, said mounting frame secured to said bumper. 
     
     
       19. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
       a second mounting frame secured to said bumper;  
       a second support frame having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second support frame pivotally secured to said second mounting frame;  
       a second roller rotatably secured to said second end of said second support frame and adapted to ride on a rail, said second roller adapted to rotate about an axis relative to said second support frame; and  
       a second lubricating nozzle mounted to said second support frame for directing lubricant toward a rail, wherein said mounting frames are spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
       20. In combination, a device for lubricating a rail and a wheeled vehicle having a bumper, said device for lubricating a rail, comprising: 
       a mounting frame secured to said bumper, said mounting frame comprising a mounting bracket frame pivotally secured to a pivot bracket;  
       a first support frame having a first end and a second end, said second end pivotally secured to said pivot bracket;  
       a roller rotatably secured to said first end of said first support frame and adapted to ride on a rail, said roller adapted to rotate about a first axis relative to said first support frame, said pivot bracket and said first support frame pivot about a second axis relative to said mounting bracket frame and said first support frame pivots about a third axis relative to said pivot bracket, wherein the first axis and the third axis are parallel to each other and the second axis is not parallel to the first axis and the third axis; and  
       a lubricating nozzle mounted to said first support frame for directing lubricant toward a rail.  
     
     
       21. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said bumper extends along a fourth axis and said first support frame adapted to be pivoted about said second end so that said first support frame extends along an axis parallel to the fourth axis so that the first support frame is in a stowed position. 
     
     
       22. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a removable pin coacting with said mounting frame and said first support frame in the stowed position. 
     
     
       23. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket secured to said first support frame wherein said nozzle is slidably secured to said bracket. 
     
     
       24. A device for lubricating a rail, comprising: 
       a mounting frame, said mounting frame comprising a mounting bracket frame pivotally secured to a pivot bracket;  
       a first support frame having a first end and a second end, said second end pivotally secured to said pivot bracket;  
       a roller rotatably secured to said first end of said first support frame and adapted to ride on a rail, said roller adapted to rotate about a first axis relative to said first support frame;  
       a lubricating nozzle mounted to said first support frame for directing lubricant toward a rail; and  
       a stop secured to one of said mounting bracket frame and said pivot bracket adapted to contact the other of said pivot bracket and said mounting bracket frame to limit pivotal movement of said pivot bracket relative to said mounting bracket frame, wherein said stop is a threaded member threadably received by said pivot bracket.  
     
     
       25. A device for lubricating a rail, comprising: 
       a mounting frame, said mounting frame comprising:  
       a mounting bracket frame pivotally secured to a pivot bracket;  
       a first support frame having a first end and a second end, said second end pivotally secured to said pivot bracket;  
       a roller rotatably secured to said first end of said first support frame and adapted to ride on a rail, said roller adapted to rotate about a first axis relative to said first support frame;  
       a lubricating nozzle mounted to said first support frame for directing lubricant toward a rail; and  
       a centering spring having two ends, one end secured to said mounting bracket frame and said other end mounted to said pivot bracket.  
     
     
       26. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said centering spring is a torsional spring. 
     
     
       27. A device for lubricating a rail as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said bumper extends along a second axis and said first support frame adapted to be pivoted so that said first support frame extends along an axis parallel to the second axis so that the first support frame is in a stowed position.